2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder. In
the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every where
on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are between the
2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,

Ed wrote:

2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder. In
the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every where
on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are between the
2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,


mold?

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

"CJT" wrote in message
...
Ed wrote:

2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder. In
the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every
where on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are
between the 2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,
mold?

--

I'm thinking it's actually black powder. Obviously either the wife or the
neighbors don't like the poster. I hope no one smokes around them...

Seriously, I can't think of anything else that it could be - except as you
noted mold.

Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) this is what it sounds like to me. You need
to find and destroy all of this mold.

Searcher

Ed wrote:
2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder. In
the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every where
on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are between the
2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,


Could also be soot and not mold. Do you burn candles, incense or smoke
in the house? Just burning candles can do this actually. Clean it up
with a vacuum and see if it returns.

Inviato da X-Privat.Org - Registrazione gratuita http://www.x-privat.org/join.php

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
news

"CJT" wrote in message
...
Ed wrote:

2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder.
In the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every
where on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are
between the 2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,
mold?

--

I'm thinking it's actually black powder. Obviously either the wife or the
neighbors don't like the poster. I hope no one smokes around them...

Seriously, I can't think of anything else that it could be - except as you
noted mold.


Thanks everyone for the responses.

We do burn candle. If it is soot, why we see it only around the baseboard of
upstair?

Here are a few more facts:

- We changed upstair carpet about 1-2 years ago. Before that, we did not
notice any problem.
- The black powder does not go away with vacuum.
- The door to one of the bedrooms upstair is closed. The only way the air
can get out is from under the door. There a black strip just under the door
which I am sure is the same material. This spot cannot be cleaned with
carpet cleaning materials. Even a professional carpet cleaner that we hire
for downstair count not get it out.
- I can see the material even around the baseboard in small closet in the
bedroom. I assume the closet does not have much circulation.

Do you think the material come from the space between 1st and 2nd floor from
the baseboard, from under the carpet, or from candle burning?

What should my next step be?

"Ed" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
news

"CJT" wrote in message
...
Ed wrote:

2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder.
In the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board
every where on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts
are between the 2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,
mold?

--

I'm thinking it's actually black powder. Obviously either the wife or
the neighbors don't like the poster. I hope no one smokes around them...

Seriously, I can't think of anything else that it could be - except as
you noted mold.


Thanks everyone for the responses.

We do burn candle. If it is soot, why we see it only around the baseboard
of upstair?

Here are a few more facts:

- We changed upstair carpet about 1-2 years ago. Before that, we did not
notice any problem.
- The black powder does not go away with vacuum.
- The door to one of the bedrooms upstair is closed. The only way the air
can get out is from under the door. There a black strip just under the
door which I am sure is the same material. This spot cannot be cleaned
with carpet cleaning materials. Even a professional carpet cleaner that we
hire for downstair count not get it out.
- I can see the material even around the baseboard in small closet in the
bedroom. I assume the closet does not have much circulation.

Do you think the material come from the space between 1st and 2nd floor
from the baseboard, from under the carpet, or from candle burning?

What should my next step be?
I don't know what your next step should be, but it certainly isn't from a
candle burning and producing soot - unless your house resembles a Catholic
Church!

Ed wrote:
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
news
"CJT" wrote in message
...

Ed wrote:


2-3 month ago, We noticed the AC filter was covered with black powder.
In the past week we noticed the same black stuff by the base board every
where on the second floor. We have a two story house and AC ducts are
between the 2 floors.

What this black powder can be and what I can do it about it?

Thanks,

mold?

--

I'm thinking it's actually black powder. Obviously either the wife or the
neighbors don't like the poster. I hope no one smokes around them...

Seriously, I can't think of anything else that it could be - except as you
noted mold.



Thanks everyone for the responses.

We do burn candle. If it is soot, why we see it only around the baseboard of
upstair?

Here are a few more facts:

- We changed upstair carpet about 1-2 years ago. Before that, we did not
notice any problem.
- The black powder does not go away with vacuum.
- The door to one of the bedrooms upstair is closed. The only way the air
can get out is from under the door. There a black strip just under the door
which I am sure is the same material. This spot cannot be cleaned with
carpet cleaning materials. Even a professional carpet cleaner that we hire
for downstair count not get it out.
- I can see the material even around the baseboard in small closet in the
bedroom. I assume the closet does not have much circulation.

Do you think the material come from the space between 1st and 2nd floor from
the baseboard, from under the carpet, or from candle burning?

What should my next step be?


Have you tried looking it under a magnifying glass?

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

"Darren" wrote in message
ps.com...

Thanks everyone for the responses.

We do burn candle. If it is soot, why we see it only around the baseboard
of
upstair?

Here are a few more facts:

- We changed upstair carpet about 1-2 years ago. Before that, we did not
notice any problem.
- The black powder does not go away with vacuum.
- The door to one of the bedrooms upstair is closed. The only way the air
can get out is from under the door. There a black strip just under the
door
which I am sure is the same material. This spot cannot be cleaned with
carpet cleaning materials. Even a professional carpet cleaner that we
hire
for downstair count not get it out.
- I can see the material even around the baseboard in small closet in the
bedroom. I assume the closet does not have much circulation.

Do you think the material come from the space between 1st and 2nd floor
from
the baseboard, from under the carpet, or from candle burning?

What should my next step be?

Ed,

Lowe's and Home Depot carry a mold detection kit. I'd suggest getting
one and finding out if this is the problem. If not, then that is one
less thing it could be.

JD


Thanks, JD. Very good suggestion. I was not aware of such a kit.

What should my next step be?
I don't know what your next step should be, but it certainly isn't from a
candle burning and producing soot - unless your house resembles a Catholic
Church!


You would be amazed how much crap candles put into the air.

"Darren" wrote in message
ps.com...

Thanks everyone for the responses.

We do burn candle. If it is soot, why we see it only around the baseboard
of
upstair?

Here are a few more facts:

- We changed upstair carpet about 1-2 years ago. Before that, we did not
notice any problem.
- The black powder does not go away with vacuum.
- The door to one of the bedrooms upstair is closed. The only way the air
can get out is from under the door. There a black strip just under the
door
which I am sure is the same material. This spot cannot be cleaned with
carpet cleaning materials. Even a professional carpet cleaner that we
hire
for downstair count not get it out.
- I can see the material even around the baseboard in small closet in the
bedroom. I assume the closet does not have much circulation.

Do you think the material come from the space between 1st and 2nd floor
from
the baseboard, from under the carpet, or from candle burning?

What should my next step be?

Ed,

Lowe's and Home Depot carry a mold detection kit. I'd suggest getting
one and finding out if this is the problem. If not, then that is one
less thing it could be.

JD


I followed JD suggestion. After 4 days, there was one spot with a green
circle surrounded with white circle. I thought that should be fine and one
is normal. Then I took some of black substance from the air filter and put
in the mold detection kit and after 2 days they have started growing. So
there is mold in the house.

I changed the filter about 7-10 days ago (I use EnergyAire MERV 7 filter
from WalMart) and put the A/C fan on On (not auto). I checked about 4 days
ago and the filters were fine. I changed the A/C fan to auto yesterday.
Today I checked the filter and there were black. I am sure the Auto/On was
by accident.

So, I still have mold. Whom should I call? Is there a good national company
or should I find a local one? How do I look for one and what I should look
for?

Sorry for these many questions. I am not familiar with this situation and I
want to take care of this ASAP. I think my wife's daily headache is due to
the mold.

TIA

I followed JD suggestion. After 4 days, there was one spot with a green
circle surrounded with white circle. I thought that should be fine and one
is normal. Then I took some of black substance from the air filter and put
in the mold detection kit and after 2 days they have started growing. So
there is mold in the house.

I changed the filter about 7-10 days ago (I use EnergyAire MERV 7 filter
from WalMart) and put the A/C fan on On (not auto). I checked about 4 days
ago and the filters were fine. I changed the A/C fan to auto yesterday.
Today I checked the filter and there were black. I am sure the Auto/On was
by accident.

So, I still have mold. Whom should I call? Is there a good national company
or should I find a local one? How do I look for one and what I should look
for?

Sorry for these many questions. I am not familiar with this situation and I
want to take care of this ASAP. I think my wife's daily headache is due to
the mold.

ED,

I dont' know of any company in particular, I'm sure they'll be listed
under the yellow pages. Another option would be to contact your local
fire department. Many times after they've saved a house from fire,
someone has to come in and take care of cleaning up and removing the
smells and water from the house. Your local health department might
also be of some assistance in this case.

JD

Darren wrote:

I followed JD suggestion. After 4 days, there was one spot with a green
circle surrounded with white circle. I thought that should be fine and one
is normal. Then I took some of black substance from the air filter and put
in the mold detection kit and after 2 days they have started growing. So
there is mold in the house.

I changed the filter about 7-10 days ago (I use EnergyAire MERV 7 filter
from WalMart) and put the A/C fan on On (not auto). I checked about 4 days
ago and the filters were fine. I changed the A/C fan to auto yesterday.
Today I checked the filter and there were black. I am sure the Auto/On was
by accident.

So, I still have mold. Whom should I call? Is there a good national company
or should I find a local one? How do I look for one and what I should look
for?

Sorry for these many questions. I am not familiar with this situation and I
want to take care of this ASAP. I think my wife's daily headache is due to
the mold.


ED,

I dont' know of any company in particular, I'm sure they'll be listed
under the yellow pages. Another option would be to contact your local
fire department. Many times after they've saved a house from fire,
someone has to come in and take care of cleaning up and removing the
smells and water from the house. Your local health department might
also be of some assistance in this case.

JD

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/cleanup.htm

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

Ed,

I changed the filter about 7-10 days ago (I use EnergyAire MERV 7
filter from WalMart)

EnergyAire filters are designed to be energy-efficient, low-restriction
filters and don't do a very good job of removing mold spores from the
air. I would suggest using filters with a higher MERV rating. The
higher the rating, the better it filters the air.

I would suggest either the 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Reduction Filter
(MERV 11), a Lysol Elite Filter (MERV 12), or an Accumulair Diamond
filter (MERV 12).

Look at the Filters-now website for more information. Here's the link:

FILTERS-NOW.com, Inc

If that link doesn't work with your browser, type filters-now.com in a
search engine and you should be able to find it.

I hope this helps.
Ron